lumbar M6, Clavel, and Boeree

[Vicki_in_Florida]

Just to clarify...Dr. Clavel went to school here in America.
He speaks perfect English. I've spoken to him many times.
He wasn't saying ummm as in trying to translate
He was saying ummm as in he was caught off guard when I started saying
this person had this experience with you, and this person had blah blah happen to them.
This is where he started ummming.
Again, had it on speakerphone.
Hubby heard it too. It was so unsettling.
We BOTH said no way after listening to him.
Again, that's our opinion.
I tried to keep pointing out that this was MY experience with him.

And by the way, I spoke with my GP today and told him that Dr. Clavel said nsaids were okay before surgery. My GP just about fell off of his chair and said NO WAY and on that reason alone he forwarned me about going this route.

I shared this information because we all say all the time that there is nothing negative to be found about these two particular doctors. Obviously, some people are not happy no matter what you do and eventually we will see someone complain. That's okay.
It's called a forum for a reason. To share ALL experiences with each other.
My surgery was one week away and I was never asked anything about medical history, meds, and I was never sent anything to fill out. Again...no staff is a negative.

I actually and went today and talked about this with my GP. These were some of my GP's feelings about it as we went over it quit thoroughly.

A good doctor should have someone answering the phone (a staff...not nurses trying to do two jobs)

A good doctor should ask for your medical history (not the day before surgery)

A good doctor should ask what current medications you are on (not the day before surgery)

A good doctor should know that you don't take nsaids before surgery

A good doctor should not give an ADR when you show facet damage (which is why one member then went to Boeree)

A good doctor should not recommend a three cervical ADR from an MRI that is 17 months old.

So, in staying on topic....there are your negatives.
The rest is up to every individual to decide what is best for them.
At least I'm sharing what I have experienced instead of hiding in the back ground of pm's and emails.

[herron65]

Sounds more like your US GPs opinion more than yours. If I would have followed a US surgeons opinion I would be fused and not able to move,

[herron65]

Oh and look up on the web about nsaids prior to surgery. It out of your system in less than a day unless its aspirin. In fact I took some two days before my surgery and here. I am arguing with you on the internet. I am not saying go to Spain its for you. I am saying you shouldnt bash a doctor that you realy don't know. If you didn't want to go to him say I choose not to go there. You will not offend any one because you have made a choice, but I hmy self must defend a person who is not here to defend him self because he is not on this forum. I own nothing to Dr Clavel but I owe him everything because i now walk upright and with out pain. You ate going to England and I think you will do great and I hope you do, but if some one starts to discredit your doctor after you have revived the best treatment possible and its not even in your home country, you will defend him in much the same way.
Sorry if I am a bit pumped up but second hand opinions are know as here say and don't contact for anything to me.
Good luck again and I wish you the best.

[laid up doc]

he's right about nsaids... aspirin is the only big no-no b/c it makes ALL of the platelets in your body less functional until they are replaced by new ones. they have a short life span. the most you'd need to stop taking nsaids such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, nabumetone, etc... is the day before any invasive procedure. this would include most spinal injections and whatnot, as well.

the main drugs w/ clotting problems before surgery are coumadin, aspirin, plavix.

patients are warned when placed on these drugs on a regular basis that they are at higher risk for bleeding and that they should always mention being on those meds to future doctors.

not trying to be argumentative... just sharing my knowledge.

[laid up doc]

have now also consulted w/ Boeree - and i agree that on the phone, he is more detailed in discussing what he sees and asking about things that may negatively effect your outcome.

i believe they are both great surgeons (he and Clavel)... gotta crunch some dates and #'s and figure out how i'm gonna make my decision!

[Harrison]

I posted a few times about this before -- did you have ask him about follow-up of his patients -- and how many required revisions -- that he did not perform? I mentioned in other posts how precise one must be in asking these questions of ANY spine surgeon.

I did speak to one of his patients appr. 4 months ago who did require a revision. This man did get a revision of the M6 with another surgeon. I asked him to post about to help others, but he declined.

[Vicki_in_Florida]

I don't understand why someone wouldn't want to post their outcome.
We come to the forum for information and guidance.
Ask everybody else "what was your experience like".
Obviously, everyone person is unique and recovery time, pain, etc
all that is gonna vary.
Knowing the good is great but knowing the bad is important too.
If all outcomes were great, well we wouldn't need this forum, would we?
Please, don't be afraid to share.
Otherwise, what's the point of the forum?

[Jstuckey]

Reading all of this from my hospital bed in England. I feel I made the right decision for me. Mr Boeree is knowledgable, skilled, and very honest about the possibilites that may have changed our plan once he got in and saw the discs. That did not occur and I got what I planned, but I appreciated the fact that he was willing to change the direction of the plan with nothing but the best for me in mind. He was not going to "make it work", but use the best for my situation. I couldn't feel more comfortable with my decision. The anesthetist has been in at least once a day to adjust the pain control plan. Another general physician has been in daily to listen to my lungs and general complaints. Mr. Boeree has been in daily. The nurses are very attentive. The others involved in your care are important too, but yes, the surgeon and his skilled work are the most important piece in the long run.
England is quite pretty by the way. Spent the first day on the southern coast, and the second day in London.
I'm rambling. Time for tea!

[herron65]

Harrison
Which doctor had an M6 revised by another surgeon? And was it cervical or lumbar? Was it because of doctor error, device error or patient error? I ask because both few have beeb brought up in this thread.
Thanks
Jeff

[laid up doc]

This is what I know about M6's and revisions:

my understanding by word of mouth is that Ritter-Lang revised at least 1 of his pts and it wasn't due to device error. not sure what the problem was.

i think i read here or SPS that Boeree had a pt in a major trauma which messed up her M6.

Clavel told me he hasn't revised an M6.

i have heard of a prodisc needing to be revised for the plastic piece slipping out due to the shear force at L5/S1. do not know who put that in.